Another travel dilemma

Well, now I have another dilemma: India and Pakistan. Before the attacks on Mumbai I was alright with traveling in India and Pakistan. But now as things look, I’m rethinking the idea. Here’s how I see it: I don’t mind a little gunfire and a few grenades. Hell, I can at least attempt to hide from that kind of violence and chaos. But traveling in one of two countries (or both) that literally hate each other and have nuclear weapons? You can’t hide from a nuke. It’s just not possible.

Now, I’m not saying the situation between India and Pakistan is even remotely close to that point. But let’s recall how close Pakistan and India came to fighting a war in 2002 after the bombings of Parliament. (And I would also note the reaction of my very peaceful-minded Indian friend Rajesh. When he is willing to contemplate violence, no matter how limited, I take that as evidence of a very real and massive sea change in Indian attitudes.)

I also seriously doubt there is any possibility of Condi Rice getting the Indians to back down the way Richard Armitage did in 2002. She just doesn’t have the leverage he did, or the skill. That leaves us in a massive pickle vis-a-vis Pakistan if India mobilizes. They’ll have to pull troops from their Afghan border to meet the Indian threat on their Eastern border. I would also remind readers that when my father and I traveled to the border areas of India near Jaisalmer in late 2004, we saw a full regiment of newly retrofitted T-82s. Mind you, that’s just what I saw.

And, if they do pull those forces from the border with Afghanistan that creates a mess for the Obama plan in Afghanistan and allows the Taliban pretty much free reign.

There is a lot of very real political risk involved in travel in India right now. This puts me in a frame of mind to consider alternatives. I was offered a nice part-time teaching gig in Saigon for three months. Plus, I’m heading down to Indonesia and could easily spend some time in Australia, especially with the dollar as strong as is it right now. Or, I could head north into China. I’m glad I have options. But still, I really want to see India. I guess I’ll have to wait.